Touch smart card

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a smart card using touch operation, having: a main body; a contact metal piece, disposed on a surface of the main body, and capable of performing contact data transmission; a touch processing unit, disposed in the main body; a touch part, disposed on the main body, and located on one side of the main body; and at least one wireless communication module, disposed in the main body, where when the touch part is touched, the touch processing unit drives the wireless communication module to perform operation. During use, the smart card can be disposed in a cardholder, and the touch part is located on one edge of the cardholder. In this way, a user can wear the smart card, making it convenient to perform touch operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a smart card, and in particular, to a smart card using touch operation.

2. Description of the Related Art

Nowadays, as science and technologies develop rapidly, various functions such as an electronic wallet, an entrance guard card, and a membership card can be integrated into a smart card, so smart cards are gradually integrated into people's lives. As for the multifunctionality of smart cards, credit cards/financial cards are made to integrate an electronic wallet, an entrance guard card or a membership card. A user may use only one card to perform a card payment transaction, make a mobile payment or pass an entrance guard or identity confirmation, so that smart cards have wider use and provide greater convenience in daily life.

An existing smart card integrates many functions. However, when a user uses a smart card to perform a specific function, for example, makes a card payment or passes an entrance guard apparatus, the user needs to hold a smart card in the hand and move the smart card near a sensing apparatus such as a card reader and an entrance guard device before sensing can take place between the smart card and the sensing apparatus. Such a manner has inconvenience in use. That is, it may be inconvenient for the user to fetch or hold the smart card or to move the smart card near the sensing apparatus. Therefore, the problem to be resolved is how to make it more convenient to use a smart card to facilitate the sensing between the smart card and the sensing apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a touch smart card, which can be operated through touch to perform a function of a smart card.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a touch smart card, which can be placed in a cardholder and is worn, to make it convenient for a user to perform a touch.

A touch smart card provided in the present invention includes:

a main body, being rectangular, and having four sides;

a contact metal piece, disposed on a surface of the main body, and capable of performing contact data transmission;

a touch processing unit, disposed in the main body;

a touch part, disposed on the main body, and located on one side of the main body; and

at least one wireless communication module, disposed in the main body, where when the touch part is touched, the touch processing unit drives the wireless communication module to perform operation.

In this way, when the touch part is touched, the smart card is capable of performing operation, making it more convenient to use the smart card.

Preferably, the touch part is formed on the contact metal piece.

Preferably, the touch part is located on a top side or a bottom side of the main body.

Preferably, the smart card further includes: a cardholder having four edges, where the smart card is disposed in the cardholder, and the touch part is located on one edge of the cardholder. In this way, a user can wear the smart card, making it convenient to perform touch operation.

Preferably, the wireless communication module is a Bluetooth module, and when the touch part is touched, the smart card is capable of entering a pairing mode.

Preferably, the smart card further includes: a battery and a power supply management module, disposed in the main body, and supplying power to the smart card, where when the touch part is touched, the power of the battery is capable of being turned on or off.

Preferably, when the touch part is touched, the smart card is capable of performing verification or confirmation operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to provide a further understanding of the objects, features, and effects of the present invention, four preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below.

FIG. 1 is an appearance view of a smart card according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an architectural diagram of the smart card according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a use manner of touching the smart card in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a use manner of placing the smart card in a cardholder according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an appearance view of a smart card according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along a sectional line 6-6 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an architectural diagram of the smart card according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a use manner of placing the smart card in a cardholder according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an architectural diagram of a smart card according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a use manner of placing the smart card in a cardholder according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an architectural diagram of a smart card according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a use manner of placing the smart card in a cardholder according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a touch smart card 10 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The touch smart card 10 includes a sheet-shaped rectangular main body 12, having four sides, being respectively: a top side 13, a bottom side 14, and two lateral sides 15. A security element 20, a touch processing unit 40, at least one wireless communication module, a power supply management module 60, and a battery 62 are disposed inside the main body 12. A contact metal piece 30 is disposed on a surface of the main body 12. A touch part 36 is disposed on the main body for a user to perform a touch.

The surface of the main body is divided into several sections, and several patterns including a photo 16 and a name 17 of a card owner and a barcode 18 are printed. Therefore, the smart card 10 has, in addition to functions of various electronic cards (a credit card, a financial card, and a mobile payment card), a function of identity confirmation. FIG. 1 shows the front surface of the smart card 10. The length of the top side 13 and the bottom side 14 of the main body is less than the length of the two lateral sides 15.

The security element 20 is disposed inside the main body 12 and stores internal information of the smart card 10. The internal information is, for example, a card number, a validity date, and security information 22 of a credit card. The security element 20 stores identity information of the owner of the smart card. The security information 22 includes a verification message or a security application message, so that the security information 22 can be used to perform security verification such as an online transaction or identity confirmation, and thus the smart card 10 can have a security mechanism for protecting an online transaction or personal information of a user.

The contact metal piece 30 is disposed on the surface of the main body 12 and is near the bottom side 14 of the main body 12. The contact metal piece 30 is manufactured and transmits information by using the ISO7816 standard. The smart card 10 performs contact data transmission by using the contact metal piece 30. For example, the smart card is inserted in a card reading apparatus, to enable the card reading apparatus to contact the contact metal piece 30, to read and transmit data. The smart card 10 can receive external electrical energy through the contact metal piece 30 to charge the battery 62.

The contact metal piece 30 is electrically connected to the security element 20. The contact metal piece 30 can provide a storage function. The security element 20 can be built in the contact metal piece 30, or is an independent element disposed in the main body.

The touch part 36 is disposed on the surface of the main body or inside the main body, and can sense a touch of a user by using a sensing technology such as temperature sensing, pressure sensing, resistance or capacitance change sensing, and optical sensing. After being touched by the user, the touch part 36 can generate a touch signal 38. The touch signal 38 includes: a touch message such as a time length of touching the touch part and/or the number of times of touching the touch part.

As discussed above, the contact metal piece 30 of the present embodiment is manufactured and transmits information by using the ISO7816 standard. In the ISO7816 standard, some contacts of the contact metal piece 30 are not set with any function. In the present preferred embodiment, the touch part 36 is formed by using the foregoing contacts that do not have any function. That is, in the present embodiment, the touch part 36 is disposed on the contact metal piece 30.

The touch processing unit 40 is disposed inside the main body 12, and is electrically connected to the touch part 36. The touch processing unit 40 can receive the touch signal 38 generated by the touch part 36 and can send an operation command 42. The operation command 42 may include a different instruction. The operation command having a corresponding instruction is generated according to the touch corresponding mechanism of the touch processing unit 40 and the touch message such as the touch time and/or the number of times of touching recorded by the touch signal 38. In this way, when a user touches the touch part 36 of the contact metal piece 30 in a certain touch manner (for example, a certain touch time and/or a certain number of times of touching), the touch processing unit 40 sends an operation command 42 having an instruction corresponding to the touch manner, to control the following Bluetooth module or overall operation of the smart card 10.

The smart card has an operation unit to control the operation of the smart card. The touch processing unit 40 can be controlled by the operation unit. Alternatively, the touch processing unit 40 is the operation unit of the smart card, or a Bluetooth module 50 below is the operation unit of the smart card.

The at least one wireless communication module is, for example, the Bluetooth module 50 and/or a Near Field Communication (NFC) module 52, and is disposed in the main body. The Bluetooth module 50 is a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) module in the present embodiment, and can be paired with another Bluetooth apparatus through an antenna 54. The NFC module 52 can perform near field communication with another NFC apparatus.

The wireless communication module, the touch processing unit 40, and the security element 20 are electrically connected. For example, the wireless communication module is the Bluetooth module 50. The Bluetooth module 50 performs operation according to the operation command 42 sent by the touch processing unit 40. A different instruction included in the operation command 42 can be used to turn on or off the Bluetooth module 50 or pair or connect the Bluetooth module 50 with another apparatus. The Bluetooth module 50 can receive the security information 22 of the security element 20, and transmit the security information 22 outwards.

The power supply management module 60 and the battery 62 are disposed inside the main body 12. The battery 62 is a rechargeable lithium battery in the present embodiment. The battery 62 can be charged by obtaining, through the power supply management module 60, electric power received externally by the contact metal piece 30, or supply power to the components of the smart card through the power supply management module 60. The components are, for example, but not limited to, the security element 20, the touch processing unit 40, and the Bluetooth module 50. The touch part 36 of the contact metal piece 30 obtains required electrical energy through the touch processing unit 40. The power supply management module 60 is electrically connected to the Bluetooth module 50, and can manage the operation of the battery 62, to prevent the battery 62 from being excessively charged or from excessively supplying power to the security element 20, the touch processing unit 40, and the Bluetooth module 50, thereby ensuring the use safety of the smart card 10.

It should be noted that, when the electric power of the battery 62 is used up, it can supply power to the security element 20 through the contact metal piece 30, so that the smart card 10 can still perform a conventional plug-in transaction.

A manner of using the smart card 10 of the present invention is described below. A user may insert the smart card 10 of the present invention into a card reading apparatus, so that the card reading apparatus contacts the contact metal piece 30 to perform conventional contact data transmission, and can supply electric power to the contact metal piece 30 of the smart card 10 to charge the battery 60 of the smart card 10. Alternatively, the user places the smart card 10 near a sensing reader, such that the smart card 10 performs data transmission with the sensing reader through the NFC module 52, or performs data transmission with a sensing apparatus through the Bluetooth module 50. In this way, wireless data transmission is implemented for the smart card, so that the smart card has a function of an entrance guard card, a membership card, a sensing credit card or an electronic wallet or an identity card for identity confirmation.

A contact less/sensing security verification function performed by the Bluetooth module 50 of the smart card 10 is described below.

The smart card 10 is connected to a sensing apparatus 70 through the Bluetooth module 50 to perform a function of security verification. Referring to FIG. 3, Bluetooth pairing is performed between the smart card 10 and the sensing apparatus 70 ((for example, but not limited to, a smart phone, an electronic payment sensing apparatus of a financial institution, and an entrance guard sensing apparatus). A user can touch the touch part 36 of the contact metal piece 30 in a preset touch manner (for example, a long press) of the smart card, so that the touch part 36 generates a touch signal 38 including a long press and sends the touch signal 38 to the touch processing unit 40. The touch processing unit 40 generates an operation command 42 including a pairing instruction and transfers the operation command 42 to the Bluetooth module 50. The Bluetooth module 50 is paired with a Bluetooth element (not shown) of the sensing apparatus 70, and transmits, to the sensing apparatus 70, the security information 22 received by the security element 20, so that the security information 22 of the smart card 10 is registered in the sensing apparatus 70, thereby completing the pre-phase work for security verification.

When intending to perform security verification by using the wireless communication module (for example, the Bluetooth module 50) and the sensing apparatus, a user connects the smart card 10 to the sensing apparatus 70, and touches the touch part 36 of the contact metal piece 30 in a specific touch manner. The touch part 36 sends the touch signal 38 to the touch processing unit 40. The touch processing unit 40 also sends the operation command 42 to the Bluetooth module 50 according to the touch signal 38. The Bluetooth module 50 is connected to and paired with the Bluetooth element (not shown) of the sensing apparatus 70 again, and transmits the security information 22 to sensing apparatus 70. After the sensing apparatus 70 confirms that the security information 22 transmitted by the smart card 10 is the previously registered security information, the verification is completed.

The Bluetooth module 50 of the smart card 10 of the present invention is not limited to only security verification for a transaction. If a sensing reader of a seller supports Bluetooth communication, the Bluetooth module 50 may also be used to directly perform a sensing transaction with the seller.

It should be noted that, because nowadays banks or sellers have many types of security verification, the smart card 10 of the present invention is not limited to the foregoing verification manner. For example, after the Bluetooth module 50 of the smart card 10 is connected to the Bluetooth element of the sensing apparatus 70, the user needs to touch the touch part 36 of the smart card 10 one more time to confirm that the user permits the transaction.

The smart card 10 can also be used as an entrance guard card or a membership card for identity confirmation. After the smart card 10 has registered with an identity sensing apparatus or an entrance guard sensing apparatus in advance, when a user passes by the sensing apparatus, the smart card is, for example, connected to the sensing apparatus through the Bluetooth module 50. After the user touches the touch part 36, as shown in FIG. 3, identity information stored in the security element 20 is transmitted to the sensing apparatus through the Bluetooth module 50, to obtain the identity confirmation.

During implementation, when the touch part 36 is touched, the following operation can be performed, for example:

Power on: The touch part 36 is performed once to power on the smart card.

Power off: After the smart card is powered on, a long press is made on the touch part 36 to power off the smart card.

Enter a setting mode: When the smart card 10 in an off-state, a long press is directly made to enter a pairing mode, or a specific action of touching the touch part 36 is performed to enable the smart card to enter the pairing mode.

User confirmation: During verification between the smart card and a sensing apparatus, a user may be required to touch the smart card again to confirm the verification.

In addition, the operation command 42 sent by the touch processing unit 40 in the present invention is not limited to control on the Bluetooth module 50, and the operation command 42 may also be used to perform overall operation of the smart card. For example, a user may touch the touch part 36 of the contact metal piece 30 in a preset touch manner of the smart card (for example, double-tap). The touch processing unit 40 then sends an operation command 42 including a sleep instruction to the Bluetooth module 50 according to the touch signal 38, so that a Bluetooth function of the Bluetooth module 50 is turned off, and the power supply management module 60 supplies power to only the touch processing unit 40 and the Bluetooth module 50. Therefore, the smart card 10 goes into a sleep state, thereby saving electric power of the smart card 10. When the user wants to wake up the smart card 10, the user then touches the touch part 36 of the contact metal piece in a preset touch manner (for example, another double-tap) of the smart card. The touch processing unit 40 sends an operation command 42 including a wake-up instruction to the Bluetooth module 50 according to the touch signal 38. The Bluetooth module 50 then turns on the Bluetooth function of the Bluetooth module 50, and the power supply management module 60 continues to supply power to the security element 20, soasto restore operation of the smart card.

Referring to FIG. 4, the smart card 10 can be disposed in a cardholder 80, for example, an ID card holder, and is worn by a user, to make it convenient for the user to use the smart card. The cardholder 80 has four edges. After the cardholder is worn, according to the use of the cardholder, the four edges are respectively: a top edge 81, a bottom edge 82, and two lateral edges 84. In the present embodiment, the contact metal piece 30 and the touch part 36 of the smart card 10 are located on the bottom edge 82 of the cardholder. Therefore, when intending to perform a function such as an online transaction, mobile payment or identity confirmation of the smart card 10, the user only needs to touch the touch part 36 with a finger to complete a required pairing procedure, verification procedure or confirmation procedure, so that the use is convenient. The user no longer needs to go through the trouble of searching the main body for the smart card and holding the smart card in the hand.

It should be noted that, if the touch part 36 uses a manner such as temperature sensing, capacitance or resistance sensing, or fingerprint recognition to perform a touch, an opening 85 is provided on the cardholder 80 for a finger to contact the touch part 36. If the touch part uses pressure sensing or optical sensing, the opening does not need to be provided on the cardholder.

Referring to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, a smart card 10′ according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The smart card 10′ similarly has a main body 12. The main body has a top side 13, a bottom side 14, and two lateral sides 15. A security element 20, a contact metal piece 30, a touch processing unit 40, at least one wireless communication module (a Bluetooth module 50 and/or an NFC module 52), a power supply management module 60 and a battery 62, and a touch part 36 are also disposed inside the main body 12. The same reference numerals are used for the same components for ease of understanding. The operation relationships and operation manners in the present preferred embodiment can be understood by using the smart card in the first preferred embodiment, and details are not described here. A difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment lies in the following:

The touch part 36 and the contact metal piece 30 are separately disposed. The touch part 36 is an independent touch component, is made of (but not limited to) a metal sheet material in the present embodiment, and can sense a touch by using a sensing technology such as temperature sensing, finger-pressure sensing, resistance or capacitance change sensing, and optical sensing. The touch part 36 can be disposed on the surface of the main body or inside the main body, and is located inside the main body 12 and located on the bottom side 14 of the main body in the present embodiment.

In a manner of using the smart card 10′ of the present embodiment, similar to the first preferred embodiment, contact data transmission or wireless data transmission can also be performed. When a user touches the touch part 36 in a specific manner, a touch signal 38 can be generated. The touch processing unit 40 then converts the touch signal 38 into an operation command 42 including an operation instruction, and transmits the operation command 42 to the wireless communication module. The Bluetooth module 50 or the NFC module 52 performs a function of the smart card. When the touch part 36 is touched, the smart card 10′ performs a required pairing procedure, verification procedure or confirmation procedure with a sensing apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 8, similarly, the smart card 10′ can be disposed in a cardholder 80 and worn by a user, to facilitate the use by the user. In the present embodiment, the contact metal piece 30 and the touch part 36 of the smart card 10′ are located on a bottom edge 82 of the cardholder 80. When intending to perform a function of the smart card 10′, the user only needs to touch the touch part 36 with a finger to complete the required pairing procedure, verification procedure or confirmation procedure. The Bluetooth module or the NFC module can be an operation unit of the smart card 10′. Alternatively, a separate operation unit is disposed to control operation on the smart card.

Referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, a smart card 10″ according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The smart card 10″ similarly has a main body 12 and a security element 20, a contact metal piece 30, a touch processing unit 40, at least one wireless communication module (a Bluetooth module 50 and/or an NFC module 52), a power supply management module 60, a battery 62, and a touch part 36 on the main body 12. The same reference numerals are used for the same components. The operation relationships and operation manners in the present preferred embodiment can be understood by using the smart card in the second preferred embodiment, and details are not described here.

The touch part 36 of the present embodiment is also made of an independent metal sheet material, is disposed inside the main body 12, and is located on a top side 13 of the main body. When the touch part 36 is touched, the smart card can perform operation.

Referring to FIG. 10, during use, the smart card 10″ can be similarly disposed in a cardholder 80 and worn by a user. In the present embodiment, the contact metal piece 30 of the smart card 10″ is located on a bottom edge 82 of the cardholder. The touch part 36 is located on a top edge 81 of the cardholder. When the touch part 36 is touched with a finger, a required pairing procedure, verification procedure or confirmation procedure can be completed.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show a smart card 10′″ according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. The smart card 10′″ similarly has a main body 12, and a security element 20, a contact metal piece 30, a touch processing unit 40, at least one wireless communication module (a Bluetooth module 50 and/or an NFC module 52), a power supply management module 60, a battery 62, and a touch part 36 on the main body 12. The same reference numerals are used for the same components.

The touch part 36 of the present embodiment is also made of an independent metal sheet material, is disposed inside the main body 12, and is located on one lateral side 15 of the main body.

Similarly, the smart card 10′″ is disposed in a cardholder 80 and worn by a user for use. In the present embodiment, the contact metal piece 30 of the smart card 10′″ is located on a bottom edge 82 of the cardholder, and the touch part 36 is located on a lateral edge 84 of the cardholder. When the touch part 36 is touched with a finger, a required pairing procedure, verification procedure or confirmation procedure can be completed.

The smart card in the present invention can be operated in a touch manner to perform functions of wireless transmission, verification, and confirmation of the smart card, and is suitable to be worn for use. The inconvenience of searching the main body for the smart card and holding the smart card in the hand can be avoided.

The embodiments disclosed above are only intended to describe the present invention rather than to limit the present invention. For example, the foregoing touch manner of a touch part is provided only as an example rather than an only touch manner that the touch part can use to cause the smart card to perform the foregoing operation. 

1. A touch smart card, comprising: a main body, being rectangular, and having four sides, being respectively a top side, a bottom side, and two lateral sides; a contact metal piece, disposed on a surface of the main body, and capable of performing contact data transmission; a touch processing unit, disposed in the main body; a touch part, disposed on the main body, and located on one side of the main body; and at least one wireless communication module, disposed in the main body, wherein when the touch part is touched, the touch processing unit drives the wireless communication module to perform operation.
 2. The touch smart card according to claim 1, wherein the contact metal piece is near one side of the main body, and the touch part is formed on the contact metal piece.
 3. The touch smart card according to claim 1, wherein a touch element embedded in the main body or located on the surface of the main body, the touch element forming the touch part.
 4. The touch smart card according to claim 1, wherein the contact metal piece is located on the bottom side of the main body, and the touch part is also located on the bottom side of the main body.
 5. The touch smart card according to claim 2, wherein the contact metal piece and the touch part are located on the bottom side of the main body.
 6. The touch smart card according to claim 1, wherein the contact metal piece is disposed on the bottom side of the main body, and the touch part is located on the top side of the main body.
 7. The touch smart card according to claim 1, wherein the contact metal piece is disposed on the bottom side of the main body, and the touch part is located on one lateral side of the main body.
 8. The touch smart card according to claim 1, further comprising: a cardholder having four edges, being, according to the use of the cardholder, respectively a bottom edge, a top edge, and two lateral edges; wherein the smart card is disposed in the cardholder, and the touch part is located on one edge of the cardholder.
 9. The touch smart card according to claim 8, wherein the touch part is located on the bottom edge of the cardholder.
 10. The touch smart card according to claim 8, wherein the touch part is located on the top edge of the cardholder.
 11. The touch smart card according to claim 8, wherein the touch part is located on one lateral edge of the cardholder.
 12. The touch smart card according to claim 1, wherein the length of the top side and the bottom side of the main body is less than the length of the two lateral sides.
 13. The touch smart card according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication module is a Bluetooth module, and when the touch part is touched the smart card is capable of entering a pairing mode.
 14. The touch smart card according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication module is a Near Field Communication (NFC) module.
 15. The touch smart card according to claim 1, further comprising: a battery and a power supply management module, disposed in the main body, and supplying power to the smart card, wherein when the touch part is touched, the power of the battery is capable of being turned on or off.
 16. The touch smart card according to claim 1, wherein when the touch part is touched, the smart card is capable of performing verification or confirmation operation. 